The traditional role of the façade, historically centered on providing protection against environmental conditions and reducing CO₂ emissions, has been significantly redefined through advances in software technologies and material sciences. These developments have led to the emergence of the façade system as a structurally independent component functioning as an active regulator of energy consumption, thereby creating new opportunities for research and innovation. One approach to studying these systems involves the application of folding principles derived from origami, which facilitates the design of modular geometric structures capable of dynamic environmental responses. Façades composed of interconnected, homogeneous elements can effectively regulate daylight penetration and thermal energy accumulation, particularly in zones exposed to direct external influences.

To further develop such systems, it is essential to design an origami pattern whose geometric and mechanical characteristics can potentially respond to the given structural and technical challenges. This study explores the potential application of selected origami patterns in kinetic façade systems, with a focus on analyzing the actuation mechanisms that control the movement of geometric modules. Furthermore, the research evaluates the justification for integrating kinetic façade systems into contemporary architectural practice, with the aim of contributing to the development of sustainable, adaptive, and energy-efficient building envelopes.

In this paper, three case studies of various natures, scales and positions within the discipline are identified and analyzed as exemplary of Vojvodina in the discussion of large-scale projects of socialist Yugoslavia. The interpretive-historical method is used to describe and interpret the case studies, while primary sources are subjected to qualitative content analysis in order to extract the underlying narratives of these projects, as well as to establish their position more firmly in the field. The first one is the Grand Canal Danube-Tisa-Danube (DTD waterway), the biggest spatial project of Vojvodina, conceptualized by the engineer Nikola Mirkov in 1947 and completed by the early 1980s. The second is the case of two plans for road and railway networks in Vojvodina by the architect Dimitrije Marinković, from his 1950 General Plan of Novi Sad, which proved to be more visionary than plans made by spatial planning institutions since. The third case is a network of memorial graveyards Rohalj Baze (1973) and Jabuka (1974) on the Fruška Gora mountain by the architect Milorad Berbakov, as an example of a new landscape-based paradigm of Yugoslav memorial architecture in Vojvodina. The questions discussed in this paper are as follows: 1) the importance of narratives for the success of a project; 2) the expanded definition of projects to include networks; 3) arts as networks (with Neoplanta Film as a showcase); 4) the creative output of individual creators versus institutions.

Plastic waste is a significant environmental and ecological problem that requires urgent action. Indeed, plastic waste pollutes our oceans, rivers, and lakes, harming aquatic life and marine ecosystems. Plastic debris also poses a threat to terrestrial wildlife, as animals can mistake plastic for food or become entangled in it, leading to injury or death. In addition, plastic production requires fossil fuels, leading to greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change. That is why recycling plastic waste is an important step towards reducing the environmental impact of plastic and creating a more sustainable future. The present work is part of this approach, and it aims to investigate the effects of the size of the plastic fibers and their percentages on the performances of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) in road pavement. Marshall Tests were carried out on the reference asphalt (without adding plastic) and the asphalt containing plastic waste in order to highlight the effect of these additives on the mechanical performance of asphalt mixtures. It has been found that the addition of PET plastic waste considerably improves the mechanical properties of the HMA. The findings revealed that additives composed of plastic fibres of size ranging between 0.125 and 1.25 mm give the best results in terms of Marshall’s Stability and Flow, by acting as reinforcement to the bitumen-aggregate mixtures. Furthermore, the optimum plastic content was found to be about 3.75% by weight of bitumen. It can be noted that the proposed solution fits very well with sustainable development.